Friday, May 30, 2014

Where are we: Bassano del Grappa - Cima Grappa (Crespano del Grappa)MONTE GRAPPA with its 1,775 meters is the highest peak
of the group surrounding it, making up part of the Veneto Prealp
region, isolated between the rivers Brenta and Piave. From Biciveneto: In World War I the Italians were engaged in a
deadly struggle against the Austrians, who had routed them at Caporetto
and were poised to invade the Veneto plains. If they succeeded, Italy
would be lost. The Italian army regrouped and prepared for its heroic
last stand along the Piave River and the adjacent mountain massif--Monte Grappa--which they had transformed into a fortress, with tunnels, bunkers, trenches, and gun emplacements blasted from solid rock (they
can still be seen today). Every Italian citizen joined in the effort,
contributing whatever they could to help their soldiers. The troops
fought numerous battles, first defensive, then taking the offensive and
repelling the invaders forever. The monument and ossuary on Cima Grappa
are a testament of the tragic cost: there lie the bones of 12,615
Italians and 10,295 Austro-Hungarians who never came down from the
mountain. In September of 2005, an organization of WWI buffs who have
taken on the continuing assignment of maintaining a section of trenches,
made a surprising and moving discovery: the remains of three WWI
infantrymen--an Italian and two Hungarians, surrounded by their helmets,
bayonets, boots, belt buckles, and personal objects (but no dog tags,
so we will never know who they were). They had died fighting one
another, then lay there together since June of 1918. • Click here to see photo albums of mountain warfare in WWI. • Click here to read an excellent in-depth article about the battles on Monte Grappa. • Click here to read more about the city of Bassano del Grappa, at the foot of the mountain. World
War II brought more misery, suffering, and death to Italy. Monte Grappa
was the refuge of the local partisan brigades which had organized to
fight the occupying Nazi forces. Aside from having symbolic
significance, it provided a vantage point from which the resistance
fighters could look down into the Valsugana/Val Brenta, the main supply
route from Germany to its forces in Italy. In September of 1944 the
Germans decided they'd had enough of partisan sabotage, raids, and
sniping, and surrounded the mountain. Forcing women, children, and old
people to march ahead of them, the German army moved up the mountain,
murdering any partisans they found, as well as civilians even suspected
of harboring them. Other resistance fighters (not only on Monte Grappa,
but in many other places) were captured and publicly hanged or shot, their families forced to watch. A powerful monumentto
them by the sculptor Murer stands just below the summit. The city of
Bassano del Grappa, at the foot of the mountain, was awarded a medal for
its valor during the occupation.

The route: Time trialing again, mainly uphill this time including a solid 19km uphill at an average of 8%. Read Will's post here on Podium Cafe about his adventures during the 1st Annual Monte Grappa Bike Day. The stage:A day for the climbers, rather than time trial specialists. Big crowds on the road today.

The early leader on the road was Nicola Boem (Bardiani) with a time of 1:12.19. Mid-way through, our leader was Stefano Pirazzi. At that moment it gave the team 1, 2 and 3 on the stage. Behind, Basso! But more importantly, the top 10 are starting their days, with three minutes between each rider. I laughed:

Ear-splitting thunder atop Monte Grappa. Weather closing in with the last of the riders out on the road. #Giro
— Orla Chennaoui (@SkyOrla) May 30, 2014

Umbrellas up at the finish and rain on the course. Would that slow the remaining riders? At the first intermediate check point, Quintana was 16 seconds down on Uran's time. Bike change for Quintana, something done by many of the contenders today. Strangely though, he also changed his helmet.

In the hot seat was Tim Wellens, with all of the favorites still to finish. But that would not last. Next in that seat: Henao followed by Pellizotti. Behind though, the top GC favorites were starting to come in. Wow was Aru having a spectacular ride, even passing his three minute man. In contrast, mechanical issues for Ryder Hesjedal. He would lose over three minutes on the day. Next to the hot seat: Pozzovivo. Wow: 1.05.54 for Aru. Pretty amazing stuff, over two minutes faster than Pozzovivo. Nice rides for Uran and Rolland, though they both lose significant time to Aru. But then came Quintana, who finished with the best time of the day at 1.05.37. With the Zoncolan looming tomorrow, he is looking like the 2014 Giro winner. Stage: Nairo QuintanaGC:

1

Nairo Alexander QUINTANA ROJAS

Colombia

MOV

79:03:45

2

Rigoberto URAN URAN

Colombia

OPQ

+3:07

3

Fabio ARU

Italy

AST

+3:48

4

Pierre ROLLAND

France

EUC

+5:26

5

Domenico POZZOVIVO

Italy

ALM

+6:16

6

Rafal MAJKA

Poland

TCS

+6:59

7

Cadel EVANS

Australia

BMC

+9:25

8

Wilco KELDERMAN

Netherlands

BEL

+9:29

9

Ryder HESJEDAL

Canada

GRS

+10:11

10

Robert KISERLOVSKI

Croatia

TFR

+13:59

Wine: Dama Del Rovere Durello Spumante BrutFrom BiondivinoFrom the producer: GRAPE VARIETY: Durella
PRODUCTIONS AREA: the vineyard is situated in Brenton di Roncà, 450 meters above the sea level, near the Dama del Rovere cellar.
WINEYARD AGE: 50 years
WINE MAKING PROCESS: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Second fermentation in stainless steel tank for 90 days.
PRODUCTION: 10.000 bottles
Dama del Rovere was born with 2003-vintage in Brognoligo di
Monteforte d’Alpone, a historical Soave Classico zone in the province of
Verona.
Its name comes from the small Statue of the Madonna that lies in an
oak-tree in Tremenalto area where we own 4 vineyard-hectares.
The holders Massimo, Wine Expert of San Michele all’Adige, and
Davide, are supported by their father and grandfather’s experience, by
the knowledge of the Agronomist Gabriele Posenato and by the Wine Expert
Giampaolo Chiettini.Durello sparkling wines are produced exclusively from the
“Durella” grapes, native to Brenton, on Monti Lessini zone, at an
altitude of up to 500 meters above sea level. The wine cellar of wine-making and aging lies few km far from the
head office, in Brenton di Roncà, at an altitude of up to 450 meters
above sea level. In the cellar we pay attention to wine-making using
very modern technology. We respect, however, the grapes-naturalness and
authenticity.
In this way we can mix tradition, culture and science to have typical
and high-quality products of Soave and Durello zone.I say: Durella or Durello is a white grape variety originating from the Veneto wine region of northeast Italy. It is mainly used to make sparkling wines. More here: "Durella is the indigenous grape variety of the Lessini Mountains, an ancient
and rustic vine that gives golden-hued grapes whose fundamental characteristics
are a typical acidulous flavour and skins that are thick and rich in tannins: polyphenolic
substances that normally contribute towards determining the full-bodied structure
of red wines."

Very light yellow in the glass with many small bubbles. Crisp, green apples and citrus. Just lovely. I admit it, the get up very early to watch the stage, plus live my regular life schedule always becomes exhausting at this point in the race. This wine made me smile on a very tired night.

1 comment:

The Veneto has some fabulous wines that are made in small quantities and barely leave the region. I had some of the best bottles of white wines (in particular) I've ever had in little restaurants hidden away in back streets of Venice.